# US 10,122,908 B2 · Image pickup apparatus, lens apparatus, and image pickup system

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- Number: US 10,122,908 B2
- Document ID: US10122908B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/858,334
- Filed: 2015-09-18
- Published: 2016-01-14
- Granted: 2018-11-06
- Earliest claimed: 2012-05-14
- Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
- Applicants: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
- Inventors: Koji Okada
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10122908B2

## CPC

- H04N 23/663: for controlling interchangeable camera parts based on electronic image sensor signals
- G03B 13/36: Autofocus systems
- G03B 17/14: interchangeably
- H04L 7/0008: {Synchronisation information channels, e.g. clock distribution lines}
- H04N 23/673: {based on contrast or high frequency components of image signals, e.g. hill climbing method}
- H04N 23/69: Control of means for changing angle of the field of view, e.g. optical zoom objectives or electronic zooming
- G02B 7/365: {by analysis of the spatial frequency components of the image}
- G03B 2206/00: Systems for exchange of information between different pieces of apparatus, e.g. for exchanging trimming information, for photo finishing
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- G03B: APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (optical parts of such apparatus G02B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D)
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS

## Abstract

A lens apparatus is detachable from an image pickup apparatus. The lens apparatus includes a controller configured to communicate with the image pickup apparatus in synchronization with a first signal. A communication contains a plurality of blocks in the same cycle of the first signal. The controller transmits information of a first time period to the image pickup apparatus, and prohibits a communication of an m-th block from starting before the first time period passes after a communication of an n-th block starts or ends where n is an integer equal to or larger than 1 and m is an integer larger than n.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A lens apparatus detachable from an image pickup apparatus, the lens apparatus comprising a controller configured to communicate with the image pickup apparatus in synchronization with a synchronizing signal,
wherein a communication between the lens apparatus and the image pickup apparatus is a packet communication having a plurality of blocks in a cycle of the synchronizing signal,
wherein the controller transmits information of predetermined time stored in the lens apparatus to the image pickup apparatus, and
wherein the information of the predetermined time indicates a period in which the lens apparatus prohibits the image pickup apparatus from starting a communication of a first block in a next cycle to a specific cycle, the period starting from a timing at which a communication of a last block in the specific cycle of the synchronizing signal starts or ends.

### Claim 2

An image pickup apparatus from which a lens apparatus is detachable, the image pickup apparatus comprising a controller configured to communicate with the lens apparatus in synchronization with a synchronizing signal,
wherein a communication between the image pickup apparatus and the lens apparatus is a packet communication having a plurality of blocks in a cycle of the synchronizing signal, and
wherein the controller receives information of predetermined time stored in the lens apparatus from the lens apparatus, wherein the information of the predetermined time indicates a period in which the lens apparatus prohibits the image pickup apparatus from starting a communication of a first block in a next cycle to a specific cycle, the period starting from a timing at which a communication of a last block in the specific cycle of the synchronizing signal starts or ends, and the controller starts, after the predetermined time passes after a communication of a last block in a specific cycle of the synchronizing signal starts or ends, a communication of a first block in the next cycle to the specific cycle.

### Claim 3

An image pickup system comprising a lens apparatus, and an image pickup apparatus from which the lens apparatus is detachable,
wherein the lens apparatus comprising a lens controller configured to communicate with the image pickup apparatus in synchronization with a synchronizing signal,
wherein the image pickup apparatus comprising an image pickup apparatus controller configured to communicate with the lens controller in synchronization with the synchronizing signal,
wherein a communication between the lens apparatus and the image pickup apparatus is a packet communication having a plurality of blocks in a cycle of the synchronizing signal,
wherein the lens controller transmits information of predetermined time stored in the lens apparatus to the image pickup apparatus controller,
wherein the information of the predetermined time indicates a period in which the lens apparatus prohibits the image pickup apparatus from starting a communication of a first block in a next cycle to a specific cycle, the period starting from a timing at which a communication of a last block in the specific cycle of the synchronizing signal starts or ends, and
wherein the image pickup apparatus controller starts, after the predetermined time passes after the communication of the last block in a specific cycle of the synchronizing signal starts or ends, the communication of the first block in the next cycle to the specific cycle.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The lens apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller transmits the information of the predetermined time to the image pickup apparatus in an initial communication that is performed prior to the packet communication.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The lens apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller transmits the information of the predetermined time to the image pickup apparatus in a communication of a first block in the specific cycle of the synchronizing signal.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The lens apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the initial communication is a block communication initially performed after the lens is attached to the image pickup apparatus or a power of the image pickup apparatus is turned on.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The lens apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the communication of the last block in the specific cycle of the synchronizing signal and the communication of the first block in the next cycle to the specific cycle are related to functions that the lens apparatus is configured to perform.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The lens apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the controller transmits information of second predetermined time stored in the lens apparatus to the image pickup apparatus, and
wherein the information of the second predetermined time is information to prohibit, before the second predetermined time passes after a communication of an n-th block in a second specific cycle of the synchronizing signal starts or ends, a communication of an m-th block which is performed after the communication of the n-th block in the second specific cycle.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The lens apparatus according to claim 8,
wherein a sum of the predetermined time and the second predetermined time is equal to or shorter than a time of the cycle of the synchronizing signal.